Illinois Derby

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

The 50th running of the Illinois Derby (G2) presents an interesting mix of
three-year-olds who are trying to punch their ticket to the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Because of its $500,000 purse and graded status, the winner will be assured of a
spot in the starting gate in Louisville, while the runner-up will earn a useful
$100,000. San Felipe S. (G2) winner COBALT BLUE (Golden Missile) is the 9-5
favorite on the morning line, but we think he could be vulnerable moving from
the warm confines of Southern California to the cold early spring temperatures
in Chicago.

BOLD START (Jump Start) was a game allowance winner in his seasonal debut,
then attended the early running before fading to sixth in the Holy Bull S. (G3)
at Gulfstream Park. Trainer Kenny McPeek equipped the dark bay colt with
blinkers for his next start in the Hutcheson S. (G2), and Bold Start improved
significantly. He was restrained out of the gate, then made a steady advance
along the inside before being checked while in a pocket near the half-mile pole.
He held his position along the rail around the turn, then angled out and split
horses turning for home, before closing gamely for runner-up honors to Santa
Anita Derby (G1) entrant King of
the Roxy (Littleexpectations) while 5 1/2 lengths clear of third-placer Out of
Gwedda (Out of Place).

Looking back on his juvenile campaign, Bold Start set the early pace under
pressure before holding on well for third in the 1 1/16-mile Cradle S. at River
Downs. In his next start, he dueled for the lead turning for home before fading
to sixth in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland over the new Polytrack
surface that punished early speed.

Bold Start is seasoned against top competition and could be coming to hand at
the right time while stretching back out in distance. He is well drawn for a
ground-saving trip, has excellent tactical speed, and should offer playable
odds.

COWTOWN CAT (Distorted Humor), a valuable soldier in the army of
three-year-olds trained by Todd Pletcher, was a daylight winner in his two-turn
debut in the Gotham S. (G3) at Aqueduct. The chestnut broke forwardly along the
rail and became the inside stalker in the run down the backstretch. He bulled
his way through from between horses while in tight in upper stretch, then
responded to his rider and drew off to a convincing 2 1/2-length victory in the 1
1/16-mile test. In his previous start, he advanced quickly four-wide around the
turn before finishing an even, but distant, third in the 6 1/2-furlong Swale S.
(G2) at Gulfstream Park. Cowtown Cat is a dangerous stalk-and-pounce type who must be respected for
a top-three placing.

The Doug O’Neill-trained Cobalt Blue returned to action with a sizzling
six-furlong allowance victory in 1:09 flat at Santa Anita in mid-February. In
his next start, he rated kindly on the lead while setting modest fractions,
edged away while under a drive in upper stretch, then crossed the finish line two
lengths in front in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe while making his two-turn and
stakes debut. Our concern is that his opponents in the San Felipe
were a lesser than stellar group and that he will be facing a tougher task in
this spot. In addition, as the morning-line favorite, he could be vulnerable
over this surface, which could be deep, loose and tiring due to the winter-like weather.

Our two sleepers are CATMAN RUNNING (Tactical Cat) and SACRIFICE BUNT (Storm
Cat). Catman Running checked off heels going into the first turn, settled in
third as the outside stalker down the backstretch, advanced three-wide around
the second turn, then drove to a clear victory in the March 3 John Battaglia
Memorial S. at Turfway Park. The Eric Reed trainee was a good-looking maiden
winner at this venue in late December and skipped the Lane’s End S. (G2) at
Turfway to run in this spot. He is three-for-three around two turns and has some
upset potential. Sacrifice Bunt, a full brother to 1999 Illinois Derby winner
Vision and Verse, came running from way back to break his maiden going nine
furlongs at Gulfstream Park, then rallied smartly around the second turn before
finishing well and finishing a good fifth to Florida Derby (G1) placer Chelokee
(Cherokee Run) in a nine-furlong allowance last out. The Bill
Mott-trained colt is a late-running threat at a price.

REPORTING FOR DUTY (Deputy Commander) raced in a pocket but did not offer any
response when clear as the odds-on favorite in a two-turn allowance at Fair
Grounds in his latest. In his previous start, he finished a closing second to the
well-regarded Ketchikan (Mr. Greeley). The Steve Asmussen trainee would have to
improve sharply to factor here. QUITE ACCEPTABLE (Acceptable) won the local prep
for this race, the 1 1/16-mile War Emblem S. on March 18. The Shannon Ritter
pupil is two-for-two over this surface but would be a surprise at this level.

FAMILY TALK (Talk Is Money), who is also trained by O’Neill, was set down for
the drive in upper stretch then faded against allowance types in his last start.
He is hard to recommend. LOVE DUBAI (E Dubai) won three straight against lesser
on Polytrack in England and appears overmatched.